When the film was first conceived in 1978, Martin Scorsese originally planned to cast the UK punk band, The Clash. When the project was initially shelved he eventually gave them a cameo in The King of Comedy (1983) as a band called Street Scum.
19th century New York was recreated on the lot of Cinecittą studios in Rome. When George Lucas visited the massive set, he reportedly turned to Scorsese and said that sets like that can be done with computers now.
The 19th century New York accent had to be made up/guessed.
Hell-Cat Maggie and most of the gangs mentioned by name are real gangs of New York during the 19th century.
The film was conceived in 1978 and originally intended to be produced sometime in 1980 or 1981, but the box office failure of Heaven's Gate (1980) made studios wary of expensively ambitious historical dramas and the idea was shelved.
During filming Daniel Day-Lewis talked with his film accent during the entire time of production, even when he was not on the set.
Director Cameo: [Martin Scorsese] the wealthy man at the head of the table being "turtledoved" by Jenny (look for the big eyebrows)
Being a big fan of the film O Lucky Man! (1973), Scorsese originally considered using Malcolm McDowell to play Amsterdam in the late-'70s.
Robert De Niro and Willem Dafoe were considered for the part of Bill "The Butcher" Cutting.
While filming a fight scene, Leonardo DiCaprio broke Daniel Day-Lewis' nose. Day-Lewis continued to film the scene despite the injury.
Had Scorsese been able to make this film in 1978, he had planned to cast Robert De Niro in the role of "Amsterdam".
Elmer Bernstein was commissioned to write the score, which was recorded at London's Abbey Road studios, but it was replaced by a new soundtrack at the last minute.
The POV shot where Amsterdam reemerges into the Five Points after recuperating from his wound (specifically, the four or five men loafing on either side of the alley) is a visual reference to a Jacob Riis photo, "Bandit's Roost", used as cover art on some editions of Herbert Asbury's "Gangs of New York."
Daniel Day-Lewis said in an interview that he listened to the music of Eminem to prepare for his role.
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio both took salary reductions in order to pay for the budget, which was passing limits.
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